I don’t have to wait to find out.
There’s a strange collection of items on my bed. A pink wand I’m sure is a vibrator, a bottle of French perfume, a box of truffles, and a bundle of what looks like cash. I pick it up, sure it’s fake and Doc has somehow managed to print money with his face on it or something. Instead, Benjamin Franklin’s eyes stare back at me. It’s real. I drop the money like it’s a hairy spider and spot the torn piece of yellow note paper lying on my bed.
Dear Tits,
Sorry if these gifts suck. I don’t know what girls like. You make me feel like my head is on fire. See you tomorrow.
Doc. Nico. Whoever.
Ps. I’m going to destroy your pussy.
Chapter Eleven
Domenico Valente
January hovers nearEli’s Maserati G-Class right where I instructed her to be. She’s wearing a red dress and looks so good I want to pick her up and bite into her porcelain skin. She must hear me coming through the underground garage because she turns, her big green eyes blinking at me.
“Hi, Nico,” she says in her sexy voice, and I want to drag her upstairs to bed, tuck her into my side and fall the fuck asleep. Address all the sexual tension and murder and bullshit when I’m well-rested because I know I’d sleep fantastic with her beside me, and I’m exhausted. Fucking smoking. You don’t know how bad a vice has you until you give it up. Not the best timing considering my dual ‘seduce Tits and kill Parker’ plan, but I can handle it. I have to. When I found out January was abducted I made a promise with a God I don’t know exists. I said that if she was safe, I’d quit smoking.
The second she was rescued I bailed on that promise because what was God gonna do? Hit me with lightning? And then I got out of the pool two days ago and hacked up my lungs like never before. I almost puked into Morelli’s little tiled grotto like a freshman at a frat party.
I knew the big man was holding me accountable. If it was just me getting cursed, I might have kept smoking, but there was this voice in my head telling me ‘January’s gonna get hurt again. Worse this time.’
So the cigarettes had to go. I just wish it could have been next week. Next year. Next lifetime.
January tugs the hem of her dress, all eager and nervous. She’s still scared of me and that turns her on, which means I need to fucking concentrate. I’ve got a heart and body to win before I fly to Vegas and put my life on the line for revenge.
“Hi, Tits,” I say, flashing her my best smile. “What do you wanna do today?”
January frowns. “Are you okay?”
No, I need cigarettes. Cigarettes, a blow job from you and a Parker’s head on a spike.“I’m flawless.”
Her gaze drops to my hands, and she clocks that my left fingernails are bitten ragged. I hold them up. “Gnarly, huh? Lady tobacco and I are having a rough break-up.”
“Um… pardon?”
“I quit smoking for you, Tits.”
“Oh…” She doesn’t believe me. I can’t blame her. I’ve hardly been a boy scout up until this point. I push my mangled hand into my pocket. “Anyway, we’re not here to talk about me. What do you feel like doing today?”
She purses her pretty lips. “I thought you were taking me somewhere?”
“And I thought that after a month of being dragged around by your hair, you might like to make your own plans.”
January’s eyes widen. “Do you mean it? We can go wherever I want to go?”
She sways on the spot, her red dress twirling around her luscious hips. I bite back a groan. “I don’t say shit I don’t mean, Tesorina. Now hurry up and decide because there’s a growing chance you’re gonna get fucked on the hood of Morelli’s car instead.”
“Then… I guess I know somewhere, but I’m not sure you’ll want to take me there.”
“Is it outside the continental US?”
“No.”
“Then spit it out.”
A shadow crosses her face. “Today is my… it’s my Zia Teresa’s funeral.”
